Object image print service system

ABSTRACT

In a three-dimensional object image print service system capable of printing out a desired three-dimensional object image, a three-dimensional image display apparatus includes a three-dimensional object image generator for generating a three-dimensional object image, based on instructions from an input device operated by a user and a three-dimensional object image generation program previously provided. The three-dimensional image display device further includes a selector for selecting arbitrary part of the three-dimensional object image generated based on instructions from the user, and a transition information generator for generating transition information of a three-dimensional object image representing the selected arbitrary part of the three-dimensional object image. The three-dimensional object image arbitrarily selected by the user can be reproduced based on the transition information and the three-dimensional object image generation program.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/495,519,filed Feb. 1, 2000, now abandoned, the entire content of which is herebyincorporated by reference in this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to television game machines by which auser can select an image of a virtual world constructed in a televisiongame and print out the selected image. More specifically, the presentinvention relates to a television game image print service systemenabling a user to arbitrarily select and print out virtual world imagesthat are variable according to user's play in a game.

2. Description of the Background Art

Conventionally, in television games, states of the game during play areonly kept in the user's mind after game play. To share the fun of theplay with someone else after the game is over, the user has to describeit orally. Thus, game machines have been provided that can store animage representing the state during play in memory, and be restarted todisplay the stored image on a screen as desired in order to show it tosomeone else at a later time required.

Such game machines, however, requires the game machine console forreproducing and displaying the image stored in the memory. Therefore, itis substantially impossible to show the reproduced image to someone atan arbitrary place where no console exists. In other words, to reproducethe game image and show it to someone, the user first has to bring thememory with the game image stored therein to a place where a gamemachine has been installed or is available, or bring both the memory andthe game machine console. Thus, in conventional game machines, it isimpossible to carry a desired game image at will and show it to someoneat an arbitrary place where no console exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is designed to solve the problem described above.An object of the present invention is to provide a television gamemachine and a television game image print service system enabling a userto select an image of a virtual world constructed in a television gameand print out the selected image, so that the user can carry a desiredgame image at will and show it to someone at an arbitrary place withoutthe need for a game console.

The present invention has the following features to achieve the objectabove.

A first aspect of the present invention is directed to an apparatus fordisplaying an object image, comprising:

-   -   an object image generator for generating the object image by        operating an object image generation program previously        provided, according to instructions from a user;    -   a selector for selecting an arbitrary part of the generated        object image, according to instructions from the user;    -   a transition information generator for generating transition        information when the object image is selected; and    -   a transition information storage device for storing the        transition information, wherein    -   the object image arbitrarily selected by the user is recoverable        at a future time according to the transition information stored        in the transition information storage device and the object        image generation program.

As described above, in the first aspect, the arbitrarily selected partof the object image is stored not as the image data indicative of theimage itself but as its transition information which is far smaller indata amount than the image data itself. The selected object image isthen recovered based on the stored transition information with theobject image generation program. Therefore, since the amount of data tobe stored and reproduced is small, it is possible to store and recovermore images at higher speed.

In a preferred embodiment described later, the object image generationprogram is stored in ROM, and

-   -   the transition information storage device may be constructed of        rewritable non-volatile memory. In this case, since the        transition information storage device is constructed of        rewritable non-volatile memory, the transition information        stored in the transition information storage device is updated.

The ROM and the rewritable non-volatile memory are accommodated in adevice that is removable from a body of the object image displayapparatus. In this case, since the object image generation program andthe transition information are stored in one body, high portability canbe achieved.

Further, the ROM and the rewritable non-volatile memory are separatelyremovable from the body of the object image display apparatus. In thiscase, the transition information storage device is constructed of therewritable non-volatile memory, and the object image generation programand the transition information are accommodated separately, enabling thetransition information storage device to be used in combination withanother object image generation program.

Moreover, the apparatus further comprises a recovery device with arecovery program for recovering the object image arbitrarily selected bythe user by operating the object image generation program using thetransition information stored in the transition information storagedevice as an operational parameter.

Still further, the object image generator may be constructed so as togenerate the object image according to progress of a game which variesin response to instructions from the user. In this case, the objectimage is reproduced according to the progress of the game even when theuser does not specifically select any image.

The object image may be a two-dimensional image or a three-dimensionalimage.

Still further, the transition information includes coordinates anddirection of an object and coordinates and direction of a viewpoint. Inthis case, therefore, it is possible to record and reproduce anarbitrary part of the object from an arbitrary viewpoint.

Still further, the transition information is game progress informationin a game. In this case, therefore, it is possible to record andreproduce the image according to the progress of the game.

A second aspect of the present invention is directed to a system forprinting an object image, comprising:

-   -   an object image processing apparatus for processing the object        image; and    -   a printer for printing the object image processed by the object        image processing apparatus,    -   the object image processing apparatus        -   generating the object image by operating an object image            generation program previously provided, according to            instructions from a user;        -   selecting an arbitrary part of the generated object image,            according to instructions from the user;        -   generating transition information of an object image            representing the selected arbitrary part of the object            image; and        -   recovering the object image arbitrarily selected by the user            by operating the object image processing program using the            transition information as an operational parameter, and    -   the printer printing the recovered object image.

In the second aspect, for the arbitrarily-selected part of the objectimage, not image data is indicative of the image itself but thetransition information that is far smaller in data amount than the imagedata is generated. Based on the generated transition information, theselected object image is recovered and printed. Therefore, it ispossible to select and print more images at higher speed.

In the embodiment described below, the system further comprises:

-   -   a display device for displaying a plurality of object images        recovered by operating the object image processing program using        the transition information as an operational parameter, as        recovered object images; and    -   a recovered image selector for selecting an arbitrary recovered        object image from the recovered object images displayed on the        display device according to instructions by the user, and    -   a printer that prints the selected recovered object image.

In this case, it is possible to recover and display the object imagesselected by the user, and the user can select an object image to beprinted based on the display.

A third aspect of the present invention is directed to a system forprinting an object image, comprising:

-   -   an object image generator for generating an object image to be        displayed and recovery data for the object image to be printed;    -   a recovery device for recovering the object image to be printed        based on the recovery data supplied from the object image        generator; and    -   a printer for printing the object image recovered by the        recovery device, the object image generator        -   generating the object image to be displayed by operating an            object image generation program previously provided,            according to instructions from a user,        -   selecting an arbitrary part of the generated object image,            according to instructions from the user, and        -   generating transition information of an object image            representing the selected arbitrary part of the object image            as the recovery data,    -   the recovery device, with a program identical to the object        image generation program stored therein, recovering the selected        object image arbitrarily selected by the user by operating the        program identical to the object image generation program using        the transition information as an operation parameter, and    -   printing the recovered object image using the printer.

In the third aspect, the same effects as in the second aspect can beachieved, and the object image can be recovered with the object imagegeneration program.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is directed to a method forprinting an object image, comprising the steps of:

-   -   generating the object image by operating an object image        generation program previously provided, according to        instructions from a user;    -   selecting an arbitrary part of the generated object image,        according to the instructions from the user;    -   generating transition information of an object image        representing the selected arbitrary part of the object image;    -   recovering the object image arbitrarily selected by the user by        operating the object image processing program with the        transition information as an operational parameter; and    -   printing the recovered object image.

As described above, in the fourth aspect, for the arbitrarily-selectedpart of the object image, rather than image data indicative of the imageitself, the transition information is generated that is far smaller indata amount than the image data. Based on the generated transitioninformation, the selected object image is recovered and printed.Therefore, it is possible to select and print more images at higherspeed.

In the embodiment described below, the method further comprises thesteps of:

-   -   displaying a plurality of object images recovered by operating        the object image processing program by using the transition        information as the operational parameter, as recovered object        images;    -   selecting an arbitrary recovered object image from the recovered        object images displayed on the display device, according to        instructions by the user; and    -   printing the selected recovered object image.

In this case, it is possible to recover and display the object imagesselected by the user, and the user can select an object image to beprinted based on the display.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is directed to a recordingmedium with a computer program recorded thereon to control an objectimage generator for generating an object image,

-   -   the computer program causing the object image generator to        execute the steps of:    -   generating an object image by operating an object image        generation program previously provided according to instructions        from a user;    -   selecting an arbitrary part of the generated object image,        according to instructions from the user; and    -   generating transition information of an object image        representing the selected arbitrary part of the object image,        where in    -   the object image arbitrarily selected by the user can be        recovered at a future time according to the transition        information stored in the transition information storage device        and the object image generation program.

In the fifth aspect, an operational environment in the first aspect canbe achieved by loading the computer program to a computer.

In the embodiment described below, the computer program further causesthe object image generator to execute the steps of:

-   -   recovering the object image arbitrarily selected by the user by        operating the object image processing program using the        transition information as an operational parameter; and    -   printing the recovered object image.

The computer program further causes the object image generator toexecute the steps of:

-   -   displaying a plurality of object images recovered by operating        the object image processing program as recovered object images,        using the transition information as an operational parameter;        and    -   selecting an arbitrary recovered object image from the recovered        object images displayed on the display device according to        instructions by the user; and    -   printing the selected recovered object image.

In this manner, it is possible to recover and display the object imagesselected by the user, and the user can select an object image to beprinted based on the display.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is directed to an apparatus fordisplaying an object image, comprising:

-   -   an object image generator for generating the object image by        operating an object image generation program previously        provided, according to instructions from a user;    -   a selector for selecting an arbitrary part of the generated        object image according to instructions from the user;    -   a transition information generator for generating transition        information when the object image is selected; and    -   a transition information storage device for storing the        transition information,        wherein    -   the object image arbitrarily selected by the user is recoverable        after the image generation program ends, according to the        transition information stored in the transition information        storage device and the object image generation program.

These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of the present invention when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a television game system according toone embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block showing a television game image print service systemaccording to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a memory mapping diagram in the television game image printservice system according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the television gameimage print service system according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a detailed operation of a game programexecution subroutine shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a detailed operation of an object drawingsubroutine shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a detailed operation of a print programexecution subroutine shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a detailed operation of a print imageselection program execution subroutine shown in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Described below is a television game image print system incorporating athree-dimensional object image print system according to one embodimentof the present invention into a television game machine. With referenceto FIG. 1, described first is an example of the construction of atelevision game system Sg constructing the television game image printsystem. As shown in FIG. 1, the television game system Sg includes atelevision game machine Ug, a memory cassette Mc storing data of atelevision game, a controller C operated by the user to convey commandsof a user to the television game machine Ug and a television set D,which is a display device for displaying a game image. The controller Cgenerates a user instruction signal Scu indicating the intention of theuser according to the user's operation.

The memory cassette Mc includes ROM 1 storing an execution program forthe game, and non-volatile flash memory 3 storing data indicative of thegame image selected by the user (hereinafter referred to as “selectedgame image data”).

The television game machine Ug includes a CPU 5, work RAM 7, a displaycircuit 9, and display RAM 11. The CPU 5 is bi-directionally connectedto the ROM 1 and the flash memory 3 in the memory cassette Mc toexchange game program data Sp and selected game image data Ssi,respectively. The CPU 5 is further connected to the controller C toreceive input of the user instruction signal Scu.

According to the game program data Sp fed from the ROM 1 and the userinstruction signal Scu, the CPU 5 performs various calculation to makethe game proceed, determines the game contents to be displayed, andgenerates display game image data Scv representing the determined gamecontents. The CPUS is connected to the work RAM 7, and exchanges workingdata Sw generated at calculation.

The display circuit 9 is connected to the CPU 5, and when supplied withthe display game image data Scv, generates game video data Sv to beactually displayed on the television device D. The display circuit 9 isconnected to the display RAM 11, and temporarily stores the generatedgame video audio data Sv.

As a matter of course, the television game machine Ug may include anaudio processing circuit for reproducing audio data that provides soundeffects according to the progress of the game. However, description ofaudio processing is omitted herein for the purpose of simplification.

With reference to FIG. 2, described is the television game image printservice system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Asshown in FIG. 2, a television game image print service system Sgpfurther includes the memory cassette Mc, the television game machine Ug,a video printer P. and a print control circuit Cp. Assume that theselected game image data Ssi has already been stored in the flash memory3 in the memory cassette Mc.

The CPU 5 is connected to the ROM 1, the work RAM 7 and the displaycircuit 9 to exchange the game program data Sp, the selected game imagedata Ssi, and the display game image data Scv, respectively. The CPU 5then executes the game program data Sp read from the ROM 1, andgenerates the display game image data Scv according to the selected gameimage data Ssi and a print control signal SCP.

The display circuit 9 is connected to the CPU 5, and when supplied withthe display game image data Scv, generates the game video data Sv to beactually printed out on the video printer P. The print control circuitCp is connected to the CPU 5, and when supplied with the print controlsignal Scp, generates a video printer control signal Scvp forcontrolling drive of the video printer P.

The video printer P is connected to the print control circuit Cp and thedisplay circuit 9, and when supplied with the video printer controlsignal Scvp and the game image video data Sv, respectively therefrom,prints out the image selected by the user.

In FIG. 3, there is shown is a memory structure in the ROM 1, the RAMand the flash memory 3 in the present embodiment. As shown in thedrawing, the ROM 1 stores a program and various data representingthree-dimensional object images. The RAM stores a frame counter, anddata indicative of three-dimensional object image data according to theprogress of the game. In the present embodiment, the coordinates anddirection of each object and the coordinates and direction of a cameraare stored as transition information. Such transition information isalternately renewed as to keep old and new information simultaneously.

In the flash memory 3, the transition information of the selectedthree-dimensional object images for each frame are sequentially storedin a transition information area therein. Furthermore, recorded in aprint specifying index area are print object pointers Pobj1 to Pobjn (nis the number of three-dimensional object images to be printed)indicative of frame numbers in which the transition information of theimages to be printed is stored among the selected three-dimensionalobject images. For example, when 1 is stored in the print object pointerPobjn, that means, in FIG. 3, the three-dimensional object image offrame 1 is specified as the image to be printed.

In the television game system Sg and television game image print servicesystem Sgp as constructed above, the memory cassette storing theselected game image data Ssi of the game and game data is brought in toa print laboratory for print, thereby allowing the user to obtain aspecific image obtained through play as an easily-portable medium suchas a photo.

In other words, in such print system in which the selected digital gameimage data is handed in to a print laboratory for print on a papermedium, by handing in the memory cassette storing the transitioninformation (Ssi) of the game as digital data to the print laboratory,it is possible to extremely reduce or totally eliminate a workload ofdeveloping a program for print-out at a game software side and usingmemory space for such a program. Furthermore, the system is constructedso as to be able to reduce storage space of image data and to provide amore flexible print menu by equipment replacement at a printlaboratory's side without altering the game software.

More particularly, in the present system, it is possible to extremelyreduce or totally eliminate the workload of developing the gamesoftware, thereby allowing reduction in development duration, which isan important factor in game development. Furthermore, since thetransition information requires far less memory compared with image dataafter drawing, the memory cassette can store many images. Further, theprint laboratory's side can take any form as long as the printlaboratory can change the resolution of drawn image at will whenprinting according to situations and requirements. The print laboratorymay also first output the image only in a limited range of thetransition information, and then other image based on the transitioninformation according to demands. For example, the present system hasflexibility of easily coping with images even not required atdevelopment, by modifying a printout device according to demands afterproduct release.

With reference to FIG. 4, described next is the operation of thethree-dimensional image data print system according to the presentembodiment. First, in step S100, the ID of a device connected to acontroller connector of the television game machine Ug is detected. Theprocedure then advances to the next step S300.

In step S300, it is determined by the ID detected in step S100 whetherthe video printer is connected to a controller 4 (4CON) of thetelevision game machine Ug. If the determination result is No, theprocedure advances to step S500, where the game program stored in theROM 1 is executed and then the procedure ends. On the other hand, if thedetermination result is Yes, the procedure advances to step S700, wherethe print program stored in the ROM 1 is executed and then the procedureends. The detailed operation in steps S500 and S700 will be describedbelow with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7.

As described above, in the present system, the image to be printed isgenerated by using the hardware and game program of the game machine asthey are, and therefore it is possible to construct a shop print systemas a print laboratory with a simple external apparatus. As a result,system costs can be reduced. Specifically, when the memory cassette Mcaccommodates both of the game program Sp and the image information Ssi,the program in the cassette side determines what type of print serviceis provided without depending on the apparatus at the shop. Therefore,new service can be advantageously provided without replacing the shopapparatus whenever a new game cassette (program) is provided. Also interms of operability, since connection to the printer triggers switchingbetween game play and print, the operator can easily operate the systemwithout any operation for switching. The program for printout at printlaboratories or shops may be included in a program on the CD-ROM insteadof the ROM 1 of the memory cassette Mc.

With reference to FIG. 5, described is the processing of a game programexecution subroutine in the above step S500. In step S300, when it isdetermined that the video printer is not connected to the controller 4(4CON), first, in step S502, a game menu is displayed on the televisiondevice D. In the game opening menu, for example, five alternatives “Fromstart”, “Continue”, “Gallery”, and “Option” are presented to the user.When the user wants to play the game from start, the user selects “Fromstart”. When the user has played and temporarily stopped the game, theuser selects “Continue”. Selection of “Gallery” and “Option” will bedescribed below.

When the user selects “Gallery” in the opening menu, “Select print” isselected in step 5530, and a print image selection program executionroutine starts in step 5800, which will be described in detail laterwith reference to FIG. 8.

On the other hand, when the user selects “Continue” in the opening menu,a sub-menu is displayed offering four alternatives, “Go to course”,“Pokemon report”, “Pokemon album”, and “Record”, for example. In thepresent embodiment, the processing when “Go to course” is selected isshown in steps S504 to S524.

In step S504, for example, three courses, Course A, Course B, and CourseC are offered for the user as selectable alternatives. In this courseselection screen, for example, “Beach”, “Tunnel” and others are offeredas selectable courses.

When the user selects Course A in step S504, the procedure advances tostep S506, where it is set that game data for Course A is read from theROM 1. Similarly, when Course B is selected, the procedure advances tostep S508, where read of game data for Course B is set. When Course C isselected, the procedure advances to step S510, where read of game datafor Course C is set.

After read of each course data is set in steps S506, S508, and S510, theprocedure advances to step S512.

In step S512, the maximum user-selectable number of game images Npmax isset. The procedure then advances to step S600.

In step S600, a game image, that is, an object including Pocket Monstersand backgrounds, is drawn for one frame according to the selected coursedata. The procedure then advances to step S513. The object drawingsubroutine S600 by this step will be described later in detail referringto FIG. 6.

In step S513, it is determined whether—end conditions of going aroundthe course are satisfied. If No, the procedure advances to step S514.

In step 5514, it is determined whether an object is selected by theuser. To select an object, the user uses the controller C, imitatingoperation of aiming at the object displayed on the television device Dand pressing the shutter on a camera. If No is determined instep S514,the procedure returns to the object drawing subroutine in step S500,wherein another object image for one frame is drawn.

On the other hand, in step S514, if Yes, that is, if it is determinedthat the user has selected part of the object image of the presentframe, the procedure advances to step S516.

In step S516, the transition information indicating which part of thepresent frame and under which conditions the user has selected (pressedthe shutter) is stored in the flash memory 3 as the selected game imagedata Ssi. The procedure then advances to step S518. As will be describedin detail below, data used as the transition information can be dataindicative of the relation between the operation of the controller andthe progress of the game by the time the user presses the shutter.Furthermore, the transition information may be coordinates of an imagethat can be picked up by an avatar that represents the user holding acamera and pressing the shutter.

In step S518, the number of exposures that can be taken Nf isdecremented by 1, and the procedure then advances to the next step S520.

In step S520, it is determined whether the number of exposures Nf is 0or not. If No, that is, if the number of exposures Nf is not 0 and theuser can still take pictures, the procedure returns to the objectdrawing subroutine in step S600, where an object for the next one frameis further drawn.

When it is determined in step S513 that the end conditions have beensatisfied, and when it is determined in step S520 that the number ofexposures Nf is 0 and the user can no longer take pictures, theprocedure advances to step S522.

In step S522, each object image taken (selected) by the user pressingthe shutter is graded based on references such as the size and pose of acharacter and picture-taking techniques. Other arbitrary references canbe added to these references for grading, such as rareness of thecharacter. After such grading, the procedure advances to step S524.

In step 5524, scores obtained by grading in the above step 5522 aredisplayed. The procedure then returns to step S502.

Next, with reference to FIG. 6, described in detail is the objectdrawing subroutine in step 5600 shown in FIG. 5. If No in step 5530,that is, if the number of exposures Nf is set in S512, if it isdetermined that the shutter has not been pressed in step S514, or if thenumber of exposures Nf is not 0 in step S520,

-   -   in step 5602, the operational state of the controller C is read.        The procedure then advances to the next step 5604.

In step S604, based on the state of the controller C read in step S602,new object map data representing the objects that can be observed fromthe user's avatar is read. The procedure then advances to the next step5606.

In step S606, based on the new object map data read in step S604,objects Obj1, Obj2, . . . , Objm of the image for one frame that can beobserved from the user's avatar are calculated. The procedure thenadvances to the next step S608.

In step 5608, the calculated objects Obj1, Obj2, . . . , Objm are drawnon the television device D. The procedure then ends.

Next, with reference to FIG. 8, the print image selection subroutine instep S800 shown in FIG. 5 is described.

First, in step S802, a print frame counter indicating the number ofprints of the image desired by the user is reset to 0.

In step S804, the whole transition information of the selectedthree-dimensional objects is read from the flash memory 3.

In step 5806, based on the read transition information, the selectedthree-dimensional object images are all drawn and displayed at a glance.

In step S808, the user selects a specific image from among the displayedthree-dimensional object images using a pointer such as a directionswitch, a joystick, or a mouse. Then, to print out the selectedthree-dimensional object image, the user operates input means located onthe pointer to register the three-dimensional object as an image forprint.

In step S810, it is determined whether the user registers the displayedimage for print. If Yes, that is, if the image is registered, theprocedure advances to step 5812.

In step S812, frame numbers (FIG. 3) of the flash memory 3 with thetransition information of the registered three-dimensional object imagestored therein are stored in the print object pointer Pobjn in sequence.

In step S814, the print frame counter, which has been reset to 0 in stepS802, is incremented by 1, and then the procedure advances to step S816.

On the other hand, if No is determined in step S810, the procedureadvances to step S816.

In step S816, it is determined whether there is an image to be printedamong the displayed three-dimensional object images. Further, when thereis an image to be printed among the displayed three-dimensional objectimages, No is determined, and the procedure returns to step 5808 andrepeats processing in the above steps S810, S812, and S814 until Yes isdetermined in step S816. Then, the frame numbers (FIG. 3) of the flashmemory 3 storing the transition information of the three-dimensionalobject image to be printed are stored in the print object pointersPobji, Pobj 2, . . . in sequence, and the print frame counter isincremented by 1 such as 1, 2, . . . in sequence.

Then, in step S816, if Yes, that is, if the three-dimensional objectimages to be printed have been all registered, the procedure advances tostep S818.

In step S818, it is determined whether the value of the print framecounter is i times (i is a positive integer) the number of printableframes for each printing sheet. When i is 1, the value 6f the printframe counter equals to the number of printable frames for each printingsheet. That is, the three-dimensional object images registered in theabove described step S808 are printed on all frames on one printingsheet, meaning that there is no blank frame on the printing sheet afterprinting. Therefore, if Yes is determined in this step, the registeredthree-dimensional objects can be printed over i printing papers withoutany wasted frame, and therefore the procedure ends.

However, if No is determined in step S818, there is a frame withoutprint. Therefore, the procedure returns to step S808 and repeats stepsS810 to S816, and when the value of the print frame counter becomes itimes the number of printable frames (S818), the procedure ends.

Furthermore, in step S814, the print frame counter may be incremented byan arbitrary positive integer C not less than 2, instead of by 1. Inthis case, the same three-dimensional object image can be printed out Ctimes.

Next, with reference to FIG. 7, described is the print program executionsubroutine in step S700 shown in FIG. 4. When it is determined that“4CON is inserted” in step S300 shown in FIG. 4,

-   -   in step S702, the frame counter for counting the number of        images to be printed is reset to 0. The procedure then advances        to step 5704.

In step S704, the frame counter is incremented by 1. Since the framecounter is reset to 0 in step S702, the value of the frame counterindicates 1 immediately after execution of the print program.

In step S706, the transition information of the three-dimensional objectimage to be printed is read from a transition information storage partof the flash memory 3 based on the print object pointer Pobji in theprint specifying index area of the flash memory 3.

In step S708, based on the read transition information, thethree-dimensional object images Obji, . . . , Objm are drawn.

In step S709, the images drawn in step S708 are captured by the videoprinter.

In step S710, it is determined whether the value of the frame counter issmaller than that of the print frame counter. If Yes, that is, if anyregistered three-dimensional object image to be printed has not yet beenread from the transition information area of the flash memory 3, theprocedure returns to step S704. The procedure then repeats steps S704 toS708 until No is determined in step S710, causing the three-dimensionalobject images of the print object pointers Pobj2, Pobj3, . . . , to besequentially read.

On the other hand, if No, that is, if all three-dimensional objectimages registered to be printed in the print image selection programexecution routine in step S800 have been read, the procedure advances tostep S712.

Then, in step S712, print instruction is outputted, thereby printing theselected object images on the printing sheet without any wasted frame.

As described above, after it is determined that “4CON is inserted” instep S300 shown in FIG. 4, a new step S701 may be provided before stepS702 in the print program execution subroutine in step S700. That is, instep S701, the print image selection program is executed in the abovestep S800. When no image to be printed is registered, the user isnotified by display that no image to be printed is registered, andprompted to register any image to be printed. In addition to suchdisplay, the print image selection program in step S800 may be executed.In any case, when images to be printed on a printing sheet are notappropriately registered, printing process is not started, therebypreventing printing with any blank frame on the printing sheet.

As described above, in the system where images are printed on a 16-splitor 9-split sticker and can be selected individually, it is effectivethat the user cannot exit the present mode until the images are filledin all frames without any blank frame. That is, in a system where imagedata is handed in through a digital media to a laboratory that specifieseach image individually or a group of plural frames and creates16-split-sticker print, in order to prevent a minor from erroneouslyleaving a frame blank and getting frustrated, the system does not allowthe minor to exit the selection mode until no blank frame is presentwhen selecting the image.

As described above, in the present specification, three-dimensionalobject image data is exemplarily described as the subject to beprocessed in the present invention. However, the subject includestwo-dimensional image data. When two-dimensional image data is to beprocessed, the transition information is information with which an imagecan be specified, such as two-dimensional coordinates defining apredetermined range on a two-dimensional plane, or progress informationof the game.

In the present invention, as the two-dimensional or three dimensionimage data, the user can have a character of the user's avatar go aroundthe virtual world constructed in the game to take pictures of thevirtual world itself including characters living therein, and output thetaken images of the virtual world as real photos. The user can takepictures of the virtual world by having the character of the user'savatar go around the virtual world in the game, to select virtualcharacters living therein and take pictures of the virtual characters invarious pauses in response to instructions.

Described in detail in the present specification is an example that anarbitrary image in the virtual world is selected, photographed, andoutputted as a real photograph. In other words, the example describedherein is a game in which a hero, which is an avatar of the user, ridesa vehicle and photographing monsters while moving in a three-dimensionalspace.

However, the present invention does not depend on the types of game, andis further applicable to applications for printing out images of thevirtual world as photographs without the user's selection of a subjectto be photographed. Such games includes RPGs (role playing games),shooting games, simulation games, and action games.

Described briefly below is the case in which the present invention isapplied to an RPG. The RPG is a game in which the user is a hero,adventuring on various towns or caves. In such game, the hero goes tounknown towns or caves one after another, thereby making the gameproceed. For recording the town or cave the hero visited, transitioninformation is written in a predetermined area of rewritable memory(RAM, a magnetic disk, a DVD, and flash memory, for example). In thiscase, the transition information corresponds to, for example, a flag setin the memory area corresponding to a predetermined town or cave.

If the print service system side is provided with a function forprinting out images of scenery at the place the hero visited withcorrespondence to the flag in the memory area, it is possible to printout an image of specific part of the virtual world, a scenery collectionof entrances of the caves the hero has visited, for example, withoutrequiring the user to perform a kind of image selection operation ofselecting or photographing the image. Furthermore, the print image ofthe scenery collection is provided for the print system side. Therefore,service can be planned or developed to be provided even after release ofthe game.

In view of the above, it is clear that the transition information is notlimited only to the information indicating transition states of athree-dimensional object image representing arbitrary part of athree-dimensional object image, but means the entire or part ofinformation to be recorded according to the progress of the game.

While the invention has been described in detail, the foregoingdescription is in all aspects illustrative and not restrictive. It isunderstood that numerous other modifications and variations can bedevised without departing from the scope of the invention.

1. A television game apparatus for displaying a game image of a virtualworld, comprising: game image generating programmed logic circuitry forgenerating the game image by executing a game image generation programaccording to a game progression as dictated by a user playing the game;selection programmed logic circuitry for selecting an arbitrary part ofsaid generated game image, according to instructions from said user;transition information generating programmed logic circuitry forgenerating transition information when said game image is selected; andat least one transition information storage location for storing saidtransition information, wherein the game image arbitrarily selected bysaid user is recoverable at a future time according to the transitioninformation stored in said at least one transition information storagelocation and said game image generation program.
 2. The television gameapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said game image generationprogram is stored in ROM, and said at least one transition informationstorage location is included in a rewritable non-volatile memory.
 3. Thetelevision game apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said ROM andsaid rewritable non-volatile memory are accommodated in a device whichis removable from a body of the television game apparatus.
 4. Thetelevision game apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said ROM andsaid rewritable non-volatile memory are separately removable from a bodyof the television game apparatus.
 5. The television game apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, further comprising: recovery programmed logiccircuitry for recovering the game image arbitrarily selected by saiduser using the transition information stored in said at least onetransition information storage location as an operational parameter. 6.The television game apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gameimage generating programmed logic circuitry generates the game imageaccording to progress of a game which varies in response to instructionsfrom the user.
 7. The television game apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein said game image is a two-dimensional image.
 8. The televisiongame apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said transitioninformation includes coordinates and direction of an object andcoordinates and direction of a viewpoint.
 9. The object image displayapparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said transition information isgame progress information in a game.
 10. The television game apparatusas claimed in claim 1, wherein said game image is a three-dimensionalimage.
 11. A computer-readable recording medium with an executablecomputer program recorded thereon to control a game image generator forgenerating a game of a virtual world image in a television game, saidcomputer program causing said game image generator to execute the stepsof: generating a game image by executing a game image generation programaccording to a game progression as dictated by a user playing the game;selecting an arbitrary part of said generated game image, according toinstructions from said user; and generating transition information of agame image representing the arbitrary part of said selected game image,wherein the game image arbitrarily selected by said user can berecovered at a future time according to the transition informationstored in said transition information storage and said game imagegeneration program.
 12. The computer-readable recording medium asclaimed in claim 11, wherein said computer program further causes saidgame image generator to execute the steps of: recovering the game imagearbitrarily selected using the transition information as an operationalparameter; and printing out said recovered game image.
 13. Thecomputer-readable recording medium as claimed in claim 12, wherein saidgame image generator generates the game image according to progress of agame which varies in response to instructions from the user, based onsaid computer program.
 14. A television game apparatus for displaying agame image of a virtual world, comprising: game image generatingprogrammed logic circuitry for generating the game image by executing agame image generation program according to a game progression asdictated by a user playing the game; selection programmed logiccircuitry for selecting an arbitrary part of said generated game imageaccording to instructions from the user; transition informationgenerating programmed logic circuitry for generating transitioninformation when said game image is selected; and at least onetransition information storage location for storing said transitioninformation, wherein the game image arbitrarily selected by said user isrecoverable after said game image generation program ends, according tothe transition information stored in said at least one transitioninformation storage location and said game image generation programmedlogic circuitry.